After dog dies in his hot car, owner smiles in booking mug

A smiling Houston man — facing cruelty charges after his pet dog died in Galveston on July 4 when he left it in a sweltering vehicle, Galveston Police say — posed shirtless in his booking mug, giving the thumbs-up sign.

Bill Omer, 23, a student, has been charged with cruelty to a non-livestock animal, and was released from custody after posting $15,000 bail, said GPD Lt. Michael Gray.

Omer faces up to two years in prison and a $10,000 fine if found guilty of the felony offense.

Bill Omer (Galveston PD)

Officers arrived at the vehicle in the 3100 block of Avenue S about 6:40 p.m. and found Omer holding the lifeless pit bull, Gray said. The dog apparently died of heat exhaustion from being inside the unattended vehicle for about an hour and half.

Omer was in Galveston to celebrate the Fourth of July, Gray said.

As temperatures hit 91 on the island, the heat inside the vehicle was another story, according to Gray.

“Animals cannot be left in vehicles for any amount of time,” he said. “Cracking the window does not help. It can reach up to 120 degrees in a short amount of time.

“It’s just like leaving a child in the vehicle,” Gray said. “The longer they’re in there, the higher the chance of serious injury or death. A vehicle is an oven in the heat.”